Engineering Commons^™

Atp8b1 Regulates Pip2 Localization And Cleavage Of Pyroptotic Executioner Gasdermin D, Nilam Bhandari, Ashutosh Prince, Mariam R. Khan, Alicia Traughbera, Kalash Neupane, Shuhui W. Lorkowski, Gregory Brubaker, Elif G. Ertugral, Chandrasekhar R. Kothapalli

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Mutations in ATP8B1 cause progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, with symptoms including pruritus, pancreatitis, fat malabsorption, intestinal inflammation, and failure to thrive. High-throughput studies showed interconnection between ATP8B1 and phosphoinositide (PIPs), but the mechanism linking ATP8B1, lipid metabolism, and inflammation remains unclear. Atp8b1G308V/G308V mouse model, unbiased RNAseq, high-resolution-stimulation emission depltion (STED)-microscopy, and Crispr-Cas9 generated ATP8B1-/- knockouts in hepatocytes/monocytes/macrophages were used to determine role of ATP8B1 in phosphatidylinositol,4-5-bisphosphate (PIP2) trafficking and inflammation. Human ATP8B1, purified from Sf9 insect cells and reconstituted in proteoliposomes, was used to test cell-free PIP2 flip. Various in-vitro techniques were used for testing direct interaction between PIP2 and …

Safe Human–Robot Collaboration With Risk Tunable Control Barrier Functions, Vipul K. Sharma, Pokuang Zhou, Zhengtong Xu, Yu She, S. Sivaranjani

School of Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

In this article, we consider the problem of guaranteeing safety constraint satisfaction in human–robot collaboration (HRC) with uncertain human position. We pose this problem as a chance-constrained problem with safety (chance) constraints represented by uncertain control barrier functions, where the probability of safety constraint satisfaction under uncertainty is bounded by a tunable user-defined risk. We solve this stochastic optimization problem using a sampling-based approach and obtain a risk-tunable controller to safely accomplish HRC tasks. We demonstrate the safety and performance of this approach through both simulation and hardware experiments on a 7 degree-of-freedom Franka–Panda manipulator and characterize the tradeoff between …

D.A.M.P.E.R.: Delay And Attenuation Modules For Propagation Emulation And Response, Matthew Guntz

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

The DAMPER project, which stands for Delay and Attenuation Modules for Propagation Emulation and Response, is a hands-on system designed to help test how radio signals behave in the real world. When radio waves travel over long distances or through different environments, they often get weaker (attenuated) or arrive later than expected (delayed). DAMPER lets students, researchers, and engineers simulate those conditions in a lab using simple, low-voltage electronics.

Investigating Solvent Effects On Crystallization Kinetics, Ibrahim Joel

Theses and Dissertations

The use of crystallization for separation is not a recent phenomenon. However, the development of efficient crystallization processes is continually being challenged by the complexity and high cost of new drug substances, coupled with stringent regulatory requirements, which add to the uncertainty surrounding drug launches by pharmaceutical enterprises. Accurate characterization of crystallization kinetics is a key step in crystallizer design, which can be influenced by several factors, including process conditions, scale, and the measurement techniques used for tracking particle evolution. These factors often lead to inconsistencies between kinetic studies, hindering rapid implementation within industrial contexts. This thesis presents a case …

Minimum Ghg Emissions And Energy Consumption Of U.S. Pet And Polyolefin Packaging Supply Chains In A Circular Economy, Utkarsh S. Chaudhari, Abhishek Patil, Tasmin Hossain, David Watkins, Damon S. Hartley, Barbara K. Reck, Robert Handler, Anne T. Johnson, Vicki S. Thompson, David Shonnard

Michigan Tech Publications

There is a wide agreement on the urgency of transforming linear management of plastics towards a circular economy model. However, no clear pathways exist as to required recycling technologies involved and system-wide environmental impacts. This study explores such pathways in the U.S. for the most commonly used packaging plastics through a combination of mechanical and emerging advanced recycling technologies. A system optimization model aimed at minimizing environmental impacts was developed to determine optimal end-of-life (EOL) management and locations of existing and emerging U.S. recycling infrastructures. Our study includes material flows from virgin resin production through semi-manufacturing processes to existing EOL …

Gnss Technology, Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL presentation on GNSS Technology

Novel Electrospinning Techniques For Fabricating Scaffolds To Model Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease In Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics, Isaac "Squeaky" Buentipo

Master's Theses

Novel Electrospinning Techniques for Fabricating Scaffolds to Model Intracranial

Atherosclerotic Disease in Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics

Isaac “Squeaky” Buentipo

Dr. Kristen Cardinal’s Tissue Engineering Lab at California Polytechnic State University specializes in fabricating customized vascular models, known as Blood Vessel Mimics (BVMs), for medical device testing. BVMs are simplified in vitro vascular models designed to bridge the gap between bench testing and in vivo evaluation of intravascular medical devices. BVMs are produced by combining a polymer scaffold with human vascular cells. Through novel scaffold fabrication techniques, such as silicone injection molding, silicone dip casting and electrospinning, the capabilities of …

Evaluation Of Antibiotic Testing Protocols For Biofilm-Forming Escherichia Coli In A Microfluidic Platform, Caleb R. Telander

Master's Theses

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections remain an ongoing clinical problem due to biofilm persistence and antibiotic resistance. Standard antibiotic susceptibility testing cannot accurately reproduce flow conditions and the spatial complexity of the in vivoenvironment and is thus questionable in relevance to device-related infections. This study examines a microfluidic device designed to simulate physiologically relevant wall shear stress and antibiotic gradients in Escherichia coli biofilms. The polydimethylsiloxane-based system integrates a 16-well culture chamber with a gradient generator. Biofilm growth was observed using fluorescence microscopy of green fluorescent protein-labeled bacteria. Simulations performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software estimated the appropriate range of wall …

Microplastic Eaters, Alanna Boze

Bioengineering Senior Theses

This thesis evaluated Alcanivorax Borkumensis’ (A. Borkumensis) ability to degrade polystyrene in a pyruvate-rich environment to determine if the bacteria could degrade the microplastic when grown in pyruvate. The thesis explored the metabolic behavior of A. Borkumensis when pyruvate is used to start the gluconeogenesis pathway, which is the start of the metabolic pathway when degradation occurs. The bacterium was grown in ONR7a medium, that was adjusted to a pH of 8.1, and 1% pyruvate; then it was processed by centrifugation and washing before experimentation began. Trials were conducted to iteratively refine the process and verify trial results. Bacterial growth …

Efficacy Of Monophasic And Biphasic Pulsed Field Ablation Waveforms: A Model Study, Natalia Dekock

Master's Theses

Cardiac arrhythmias are conditions where the heart’s normal sinus rhythm is interrupted by accelerated or premature rhythms. The most prevalent of these rhythms is atrial fibrillation (AF), where disorganized impulses cause the atria to quiver and pump blood inefficiently. As of 2025, AF affects over 10 million people. Aside from invasive surgical treatments, antiarrhythmic drugs, or one time cardioversions, atrial fibrillation is treated with catheter ablation. The longstanding ablation solutions for AF have been the cryoballoon or radiofrequency catheter ablation. However, limitations for these two ablation modalities are due to the nature of cell destruction; both thermal methods pose a …

Effect Of Foot Strike Pattern On Joint Kinetics On A Downhill Slope, Evan Manley

Master's Theses

With recent increases in participation in outdoor running events, there is a need for research in downhill gait biomechanics. One change that could impact joint loading is foot strike pattern. Foot strike patterns have been categorized into rearfoot-strike (RFS), midfoot-strike (MFS), and forefoot-strike (FFS) [1]. While 75-99% of distance runners naturally RFS on level surfaces, they tend to move towards FFS when it is necessary to reduce vertical loading conditions at the knee [1]. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in peak vertical knee and ankle forces, knee moment, and ankle power, as well as cumulative force …

Accelerating Llm Inference With Smart Nic Tokenization And Caching, Sudarshan Mehta

Computer Science and Engineering Master's Theses

Tokenization is a critical preprocessing step in machine learning pipelines, particularly for generative AI models such as large language models (LLMs). Despite significant advances in training and inference technologies, tokenization continues to be a notable performance bottleneck due to its CPU-bound nature and limited acceleration support. This thesis proposes NetTokenizer, a system designed to offload tokenization from CPUs to network data planes. Utilizing software frameworks such as the Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) and hardware-based SmartNIC solutions, NetTokenizer substantially improves inference efficiency. Experimental evaluations demonstrate up to a 95.9% reduction in tail latency and a 5.73x throughput increase compared to …

Caed Shop Entrance Wall Redesign, Ellen Elizabeth Untalan, Joelle Schalesky, Katherine Evalyn Timbes

Architectural Engineering: Graduate Reports

This project involved the replacement and redesign of the north wall at the CAED Support Shop at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The redesign aligned the wall with the adjacent Engineering West building. The original concrete wall was designed with jagged recesses to accommodate large trash bins. These recesses no longer serve their intended function due to the permanent relocation of these bins. The replacement CMU low lift grouted wall optimizes courtyard space, enhances aesthetic cohesion, and maintains architectural features consistent with the existing structure. The following report outlines the process necessary to complete this project, including the permitting process, …

Opensim Analysis Of The Aymara Indigenous People Performing Ancestral Tasks: Exploring Trends Of Muscle Activity With Tiwanaku Skeletal Indicators, Noah M. Taylor

Master's Theses

The Tiwanaku civilization (AD 500-1100) of the Andean highlands exhibited occupational specialization in communities, with archeological evidence suggesting the existence of labor- and residential-communities, or “taskscapes”, based on an individual’s livelihood. Prior bioarcheological studies have examined Tiwanaku skeletal remains for musculoskeletal stress markers, osteoarthritis, and cross-sectional geometry to infer activity patterns. Their descendants, the Aymara Indigenous people, currently live in the same highlands and until recently lived a lifestyle like their ancestors. Over the past 20 years, the global quinoa demand has risen, thrusting the Aymara into globalization and moving them away from the traditional tasks previously performed. This study …

Acoustic And Hemodynamic Analysis Of Phantoms: Roughness And Flow Dynamics, Ethan Erik Olof Sundberg

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether different vascular phantoms, with and without a surrogate arm, could serve as effective analogs to the human brachial artery for assessing endothelial dysfunction, an early indicator of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is characterized by plaque buildup and endothelial damage, which precede more severe clinical events and are often detectable through changes in vascular function. A 40” water tower was used to simulate diastolic pressure, enabling water flow through each phantom. Strain gauge pressure transducers were placed at both ends of the phantoms to measure pressure drop, while a microphone captured …

Neural Ranking In Sparse Data Environments, Xuyang Wu

Engineering Ph.D. Theses

Neural ranking models have become central to modern information retrieval (IR) systems, powering applications such as web search, product recommendation, and question answering. However, their effectiveness often hinges on access to abundant labeled supervision, a condition that is rarely met in real-world scenarios. In many domains, including e-commerce, healthcare, and legal search, labeled user interactions (e.g., clicks, purchases, or expert annotations) are sparse, especially for long-tail queries and new content. This data sparsity challenges the generalization, adaptability, and fairness of traditional ranking approaches.

This thesis presents a unified investigation of neural ranking under sparse supervision, introducing novel methods and analytical …

A Manufacturing Process For Interdigitated Microelectrodes On Glass Wafers, Wyatt W. Warfield

Master's Theses

This study presents work done to optimize the process parameters to produce interdigitated electrodes on a borosilicate wafer. Using designed experiments and statistical analysis, the error in pattern transfer was minimized using for key process steps including exposure time, develop time and post exposure bake duration. Similarly, statistical analysis was used with profilometry data to fine tune the develop times. Qualitative analysis was used to assess thin film deposition. The resulting process produced wafers with improved pattern transfer and adequate film adhesion

Sustainable Solutions For Managing Overcrowding At Pinecrest Lake, Andre Brisk, Kyle Ralston, John King

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Senior Theses

This senior design project presents a comprehensive infrastructure improvement plan for Pinecrest Lake, a popular recreation area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The multidisciplinary approach addresses key issues including parking and traffic flow, public restroom upgrades, water treatment plant analysis, and day-use area enhancements. Special attention is given to long-term sustainability and stakeholder engagement across diverse user groups. Data collection and site analysis were conducted to inform decisions on circulation redesigns, potential tolling, environmental impact mitigation, and improved amenities that reflect both user needs and regulatory compliance.

The project emphasizes future-proofing and resiliency through cost-benefit analyses, scalable design strategies, and …

Lab Building With Atrium, Reagan Lawson

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This report includes a prescriptive and performance-based analysis on a university life sciences building hereafter referred to as “Lab Building”. The code-based analysis includes the review of the following components: Occupancy classification and construction type, Egress, Control areas, Structural fire protection, Fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems, and Smoke control.

The Lab Building is of type IB construction and is four stories above grade with one story below grade. The building uses a non-separated mixed occupancy approach with Group A- 3 bring the most restrictive occupancy classification. Additionally, the building is fully sprinklered with a fire alarm and emergency voice …

Vector Extension On A Risc-V Cpu, Muhammad Ibrahim Lawai, Niels Holzmann, Khondakar Mujtaba

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

Electricians face significant health and safety hazards when inspecting drop ceilings, including exposure to dust, asbestos, and the risk of falls. To address these challenges, this project proposes a lightweight, autonomous robot capable of inspecting drop ceilings and assisting with wire tracing tasks—thereby distancing electricians from hazardous environments. The robot employs tread-based mobility to navigate fragile ceiling panels, integrated ultrasonic sensors and bumpers for obstacle avoidance, and an antenna system to detect and follow energized wire signals. Visual feedback is provided to the operator through a real-time video feed over a secure NoMachine interface, with manual and semi-autonomous operation modes …

Open Source Arm Cortex M0 Processor, Zack Boyle

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

Despite becoming a standard for low-power microcontrollers, the ARM Cortex- M0’s proprietary nature poses difficulties for developers looking for cost, flexibility, and transparency, especially in startup, academic, and hobbyist contexts. In order to overcome these drawbacks, this paper offers an open-source implementation of the ARM Cortex-M0 processor that is easily accessible and customizable. My design encourages development of open-source hardware while still maintaining compatibility with the vast ARM software ecosystem. Unlike other architectures, such as RISC-V, which do not have native support for ARM-based infrastructure, my technology allows for easy integration into current development processes. With this research, I hope …

Optimizing Microfluidic Murine Fibroblast And Human Epidermal Keratinocyte Cell Culture In 70Μm Microwells, Christian Navarro

Master's Theses

Cell culture is an essential technique utilized in biotechnology and medicine to remove systemic influences to study cellular behavior and morphological development of individual cell lines. However, conventional cell culture is two-dimensional and static meaning it can’t easily mimic in vivo conditions such as multicellular cell to cell interactions, fluid perfusion, or 3D structures which might alter cellular behavior and morphology. Microfluidic cell culture allows for the incorporation of in vivo conditions such as perfusion and chemical gradients allowing for more physiologically accurate models. The goal of this study is to develop a protocol for testing a microfluidic chip designed …

Underground Lrt Station- Final Project, Itay Mesika

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This project presents a comprehensive fire protection analysis for an underground light rail transit (LRT) station that also serves as a civil defense shelter. The station comprises two underground levels with a total area of 4,500 square meters and is designed to accommodate up to 1,470 passengers during peak hours.

Design Approach: The project adopts a hybrid approach combining prescriptive and performance-based design in accordance with NFPA 130 standards. This methodology ensures compliance with baseline requirements while enabling optimization for the facility's unique dual function as both a transportation hub and civil defense shelter.

Key Fire Protection Systems: The station …

Fire Protection And Life Safety Analysis Report, Ayoung Yun

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This report evaluates the fire and life safety performance of the proposed building, a two- story, mixed-occupancy facility designed to serve as a civic and cultural hub. The analysis was prepared to assess compliance with the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), NFPA 13, NFPA 72, and related standards, with a particular focus on areas where occupant egress paths challenge prescriptive limitations. The project includes assembly, business, and storage occupancies, and features a large auditorium, classrooms, an exhibition hall, a restaurant, offices, and a double-height atrium. The building is designed as a non-separated mixed-use facility and is classified under Groups A-1, …

Fire Safety Design For Los Angeles County Fire Station 171, Ryan Murrieta

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This report provides a fire safety analysis for Los Angeles County Fire Station 171. To accomplish this, the fire station is analyzed using both a prescriptive and performance-based design approach. With this in mind, the report will show areas where Fire Station 171 is in compliance with codes and standards outlined in the International Building Code (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). This report will also recommend improvements for the fire station in areas where the building is not up to current standards and codes.

Fire Station 171 is a two-story Type IIA construction fire station that also …

Ymca Building, Tomas Lins

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This project consists of the prescriptive and performance-based analysis of the fire protection and life safety features of the YMCA building in the city of Grants Pass, OR. The building was opened to the public in 1983 and was expanded in 2003. The initial construction is classified as Type IV and is not protected by a sprinkler system. The expanded section has a construction classification of Type II-B and is fully sprinklered. The main occupancies found in the building are Groups A and B. The building includes daycare room classified as Group E. The four core areas of prescriptive analysis …

Tiny-Tlic: Lightweight Transformer Based Lossy Image Compression, Chen Li

Computer Science and Engineering Master's Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive study on image compression, beginning with a review of both traditional and learning-based methods. Building upon the conventional Variational Autoencoder (VAE) framework, we explore the integration of Vision Transformer (ViT) architectures into the image compression pipeline to leverage their global modeling capabilities. Based on this, we propose Tiny-TLIC (Tiny Transformer-Based Lossy Image Compression), a lightweight yet effective model that introduces two novel components: Integrated Convolution and Self-Attention (ICSA) for enhanced feature representation, and a Multistage Context Model (MCM) for improved entropy estimation. To validate our approach, we train both a baseline Transformer-Based Image Compression (TIC) …

I-280/Wolfe Road Interchange Redesign, Mitchell Wong, Dave Liang

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Senior Theses

With the increasing population, there is an increasing need for traffic efficiency and road safety. Roadways that were once considered adequate may be unable to accommodate the growing number of vehicles on the road. In this paper, we analyze the I-280/Wolfe Road Interchange to determine its safety and efficiency inadequacies and propose an improved interchange design to fix these issues. Our analysis reveals that there is room for improvement in the safety of drivers, bikers, and pedestrians, as well as opportunities to enhance the efficiency of sections of the road that require it. We identified the lack of protective barriers …

Ambulatory Monitoring Of Biomarkers For Enhanced Recovery, Guneet Grewal, Grace Kurilo, Maggie Nostrand, Vismaya Panicker

Bioengineering Senior Theses

The objective of our project is to create, design and test a fully functional continuously monitoring hydrogen peroxide sensor. This sensor aims to identify early detection of diseases associated with oxidative stress which can include certain types of cancer, neurodivergent diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Early detection of hydrogen peroxide levels can provide patients with early treatment and can help reduce disease progression. Overall, the biosensor prioritizes early detection of ROS levels allowing various consumers such as healthcare sectors, patients, and research institutions to benefit from continuous monitoring for health management and disease prevention.

Spy Bot, Nathanael Bruce Farris

Computer Engineering

This project set out to develop a compact, mobile-controlled robotic platform designed for remote video surveillance and control via a smartphone. Using a Raspberry Pi as the core controller, the robot integrates a Flask-based server, HTML/JavaScript-based user interface, and an infrared-capable camera to provide real-time video streaming and directional control through a web browser. Key design challenges included managing power delivery, integrating motor control with live video, and modernizing web technologies to ensure smooth communication between client and server. The final system demonstrates a responsive and portable proof of concept that highlights the potential for future upgrades, such as night …